Attachment for prepayment gas-meters.



No. 825,187. PATENTED JULY 3, 1906. L. T. BULLEY.

ATTACHMENT FOR PREPAYMENT GAS METERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1905- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1n: NORRIS PETERS cm, WASNINSTDN, u. c.

No. 825,187. PATBNTED JULY 8, 1906. L. T. BULLEY.

ATTACHMENT FOR PREPAYMENT GAS METERS APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1906.

QSHEETS-SHEET 2.

ca, WASHINGTON, n c.

m: yarzms PETERS No. 825,187. PATBNTED JULY 3, 1906. L. T. BULLEY.

ATTACHMENT FOR PREPAYMBNT GAS METERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. m: mamas PETERS co., WASHINGTON, o. c.

LOUIS T. BULLEY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

ATTACHMENT FOR PREPAYIVIENT GAS-METERS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906'.

Application. filed May 15,1905. Serial No. 260,399.

To 11]] whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS T. BULLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Prepayment Gas-\Ieters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in attachments for prepayment gas-meters, and refers more especially to the coin mechanism for actuating the inletvalve, whereby a predetermined quantity of gas will pass therethrough.

It is the object of my invention, among other things, to construct an attachment of this general character in which the inlet valve may be actuated by coins of various sizes and denominations and not limited to the use of coins of a single denomination, a further object being to construct the device so that it will be positive in its operation and of such few parts so designed as to be readily assembled and manufactured at the minimum cost.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals of reference designate like parts in the several figures, Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a gas-meter having my improved attachment affixed thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof upon line A B of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation thereof upon line C D of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front view of the exterior of the case. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the case and adjacent parts upon line E F of Fig. 2, showing a twentyfivecent coin just after it has been placed in the coin-roll. Fig. 6 is a similar view after the coin-roll has been rotated and the coin ready to drop out. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the case and adjacent parts upon line G H of Fig. 2, showing a five-cent coin just after it has been placed in the coin-roll. Fig. 8 is similar view after the coin-roll has been rotated and the coin ready to drop out. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the case and adjacent parts upon line I J of Fig. 2, showing a tencent coin just after it has been placed in the coin-roll. Fig. 10 is a similar view after the coin-roll has been rotated and the coin ready to drop out. Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the case with all of the parts removed there from. Fig. 12 is an elevationof the baseplate. Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coinroll. Fig. 14 is anelevation of the ratchet mechanism. Fig. 15 is anend elevation of the mechanism forpreventing the premature return of the roll mechanism; Fig. 16 is a side elevation thereof. Figs. 17, 18, and 19 are elevations of the valve-actuating nut and adjacent parts in various posi-' tions. Fig. 20 is a cross-section of the valve= actuating nut and sleeve upon line K L of Fig. 2, and Fi 21 is an elevation of the coinsleeve.

As at present generally constructed pre= payment gas-meters can only be operated by coins of uniform size and denomination, usually a twenty-five-cent silver piece. This construction, has many ,objections,, chief among which is the difliculty a consumer fre quently has to obtain a coin of the denomination required, and if such coin is not in the possession of the consumer it is sometimes a matter of much and serious inconvenience to procure one, during which time the gas-supply may be so limited as to be practically shut off. In my invention I have overcome this objection'by providing a device that is operative with coins of various denominations and a predetermined quantity ofgas secured, determined by the size ofv the coin. The liability of a consumer being without any one of the various coins required is thusreduced to the minimum.

In the praoticeof my invention I use a gasmeter 1 of any preferred form and inwhich is the usual three-foot shaft 2, which shaft operates in a well-known manner. Fixed to the floor 3 within the gas-meter are the standards 4 and 5, between which is rotatably mounted the sleeve 6, slotted lengthwise on both sides at 7 and having a gearSupon one end thereof. Rotatably mounted within the said sleeve 6 is the threaded shaft 9, which shaft is supported at one end in the bushing 10, fixed within the standard 4, and at the other end in the packing-gland 11 and the base-plate 12, which is fixed-to the exterior of the meter. Threaded on the shaft 9 and held against rotation in one direction by the slots 7 is the valve-nut 13, having the win 14 integral therewith. Also fixed to the said shaft 9, adjacent to the base-plate, is the beveled pinion 15, which is driven by means hereinafter. described. Supported at either end in the standards 4 and 16 is the shaft 17, having a pinion 18 thereon, which meshes into the gear 8, and aworm-gear 19, whichmeshes into the worm 20 on the three-foot shaft 2. The rotary movement of the shaft 9 when actuated by the coin mechanism moves the nut 13 along said shaft without imparting movement to the sleeve 6, and the rotation of the shaft 2 returns the nut 13 to its original position by the rotation of the sleeve 6.

The inlet-valve body is designated 21, having a port 22 therethrough, which registers with a hole in the floor 3, through which the gas passes into said valve. Upon the top of the valve-body 21 is the valve-disk 23, which when seated upon the top of the valve-body 21 shuts off the supply of gas. The mechanism for moving said disk on and off its seat comprises an arm 24, which is fixed at one end to a shaft 25 and at the other end to the valvedisk 23. The shaft 25 is supported by the ears 26, formed integral with the standard 5, and the bracket 27, aflixed to the valveshield 28. Fixed in said ears 26, parallel to the shaft 25, is the rod 29, upon which is suspended the rook-arm and the pawl 31, which pawl is arranged so as to engage notches in the disk 32, which is affixed to the shaft 25.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the nut and adjacent parts are shown in their relative positions occupied by them when the valve is closed, in Fig. 19 when the valve is completely open, in Fig. 18 when the valve is practically closed, but still open sufliciently to permit a quantity of gas to pass therethrough to keep the lights burning, and in Fig. 17 the parts are shown in the positions occupied by them just as the valve is about to close.

Referring to Fig. 19, it will be seen that the wing 14 of the nut 13 is just engaging the end of the rock-arm 30, and as the nut is moved along the shaft 9 toward the beveled pinion 15motion is imparted to the rockarm, which at the same time rocks the rod 29 and lifts the pawl 31 out of the notch 33 in the disk 32. As soon as the pawl is lifted from this notch the weight of the valve-disk 23 imparts a slight rotary movement to the shaft 25 and the disk 32, which continues until the pawl 31 engages the notch 34 in said disk, when the valve-disk will be again held against movement just off the seat sufliciently to permit a limited quantity of gas to pass therethrough. As the gas is being consumed and the nut moved along the shaft 9 the rockarm 30 is again actuated by the wing 14 of the nut 13 and the pawl 31 disengaged from the notch 34, at which time the valve-disk will drop and be held onto its seat.

In Fig. 17 the pawl 31 is shown as in the position about to be released from the notch 34. The shaft 9 is rotated in one direction by mechanism actuated from the coins,

which rotation moves the nut 13 along the shaft and away from the beveled pinion 15, and as the gas is consumed the three-foot shaft 2 is rotated, which in turn rotates the sleeve 6 and returns the said nut to its origina(l1 position on the shaft toward the pinion en The base-plate 12 is fixed to the meter 1 in any preferred manner, and secured thereto by means such as screws 35 is the case 36, which is closed at its front end by a plate 37, that is loosely mounted on a hub 38, formed integral with the case 36 and held in such position by the collar 39, rigidly and permanently secured to said hub in any preferred manner. This plate can be swung upon its hub-mounting so as to expose the interior of the case and is preferably locked by means of an ordinary padlock passing through the eye 40 on the outer end of the plug 41, which is normally forced outward by a spring 42. To open the case, it issimply necessary to remove the lock and press the plug41 inwardly against the pressure of the spring 42 and then swing the plate 37 to either side.

WVithin the case 36 at an angle to the hori- Zontal plane with its axis is mounted a coinsleeve 43, that is rotated by a thumb-knob 44 on the spindle 45, having a head 46 thereon, which is fitted into and secured to the open upper end of said sleeve. The inner end of the sleeve is supported by the hub upon the plate 47, that is affixed to the case 36, and rotatable within the sleeve 43 is the coin-roll 48, which roll is of varying diameters and the steps thereon conforming substantially in diameter with that of a five-cent nickel piece and ten and twentyfive cent silver pieces. This roll is provided for a portion of its length with a longitudinal slot 51, which is of such a width as to permit the entrance of a coin therein and is supported at one end by a stud 49, which projects into the head 46, and at the other end by the spindle 50, which is rotatable within the plate 47, as shown in Fig. 2. In the case 36 is the slot 52, through which the coins are admitted, and in the sleeve 43 is a similar slot 53. When the parts are at rest, the slots 51, 52, and 53 are in register with each other and the stop 76 upon the button 44 engaging the shoulder 77 upon the case 36. Fixed in the sleeve 43 are the pins 54, 55, and 56, which pins project inwardly to substantially the surfaces of the several steps upon the roll 48. If it is desired to operate the mechanism by a twenty-fivecent piece, the coin is placed in the slot 52, passes through the slot 53 into the slot 51, and there rests, as shown in Fig. 5. Now by grasping the thumb-button 44 and rotating the same to the right or in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5 the pin 54 engages the coin and rotates the coin and coin-roll until the parts are in the position shown in Fig.

IIO

6, at which time the stop 76 engages the shoulder 7 8 and the slot 51 registers with the slot 57 and the coin drops therethrough into the case. During this rotation the pinion 15 and the shaft 9 are rotated by means of the pawl-arm 53, which is fixed to the spindle 50 and carrying a pawl 59, which engages the teeth of the ratchet-disk 60, fixed to one side of the gear 61 rotatable about the shaft 50 and meshing with the pinion 15. This mechanism is only operative when a coin is within the roll 48. T o prevent a return movement of the gear 61, I have provided the catch-pawl 62, which is secured to the plate 47inanydesiredmanner. (SeeFig.14.) The mechanism is actuated in exactlythe same manner by coins of smaller size and denomination, and for purposes of illustration I will describe its operation with a five-cent nickel 1 piece which is placed in the slot 52, passing through the slot 53 and dropping into the slot 51. It then rolls in the slot 51 upon the floor of the bore in the sleeve 43 until its outer edges engage both sides of said bore, its then position being shown in Fig. 7. Now by grasping and rotating the button 44 as before the sleeve 43 is rotated. During a portion of this rotation no movement of the roll 48 takes place, and such movement does not begin until the pin 55 engages the coin, at which time the pawl mechanism is again actuated until the slot 81 registers with the slot 63, when the coin drops out of the roll and into the case. The operation of the parts by a ten-cent piece is exactly the same as that just described, except that there is less lost motion before the pin 56 engages the coin,

(see Fig. 9) and the parts are rotated until the slot 82 is brought into register with the slot 65, when the coin will drop out and into the case. During the time the coin-sleeve is taking up the lost motion with either the five or ten cent pieces in the coin-roll the slots 81 and 82 are brought into register with said coins before the said slot is in register with the slots 63 and 65, and to prevent the coins from dropping out of the coin-roll prematurely I have provided the pins 79, which are threaded into the case and project into the slots in said sleeve. (See Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 21 It is desirable that the sleeve 43 be held against a premature return movement, and the mechanism to accomplish this result consists of a pawl 66, which is pivotally mounted in the case 36 by the stud 67 and engages the teeth 7 0 upon the periphery of the lower end of the sleeve 43 and having a trip-pin 68 passing through a slot 69 in the disk 47, a trip-plate 71, having the stopshoulder 73 thereon rotatably mounted upon the hub of the plate 47 and having a trip-arm 72 projecting radially therefrom, and a pin 74, which is fixed in the end of said sleeve and passes through the slot 75 in the plate 47 concentric with the axis of said sleeve. In Fig. 15 the parts are shown in the relative positions occupied by them before the coin is inserted, the pawl 66 engaging the teeth of the sleeve and preventing its rotation in one direction. As the sleeve 43 is rotated the pin 74 moves through the slot 75 until it has substantially made half of a revolution. During this movement it will be noted that the sleeve cannot be returned to its original position, owing to the action of the pawl 66. hen the pin 74 engages the arm 72, it rotates the plate 71 and the engagement of said arm with the pin 68 throws the pawl 66 out of engagement with said teeth. The sleeve can now be returned to its original position, and with it the coin-roll, by the engagement of the pin 54 with the pin 83 in said coin-roll, and just before this return movement is completed the in 74 engages the shoulder 73 and returns the plate 71 to the position shown in Fig. 15, at which time the pawl 66 again engages the teeth of the sleeve 43.

There are minor changes and alterations that can be madewithin my invention aside from those herein suggested, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but claim all that falls fairly within the spirit and scope of my in, vention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a prepayment gas-meter, the combination with an inlet-valve of means for op ening said valve, said means comprising a rotary member having a positive connection with said inlet-valve, another rotary mem ber independent of said first-mentioned rotary member, one of said rotary members having an endwise slot therein and means for coupling the aforesaid rotary members by coins of various sizes.

2. In a prepayment gas-meter, the combination with an inlet-valve of a rotary member connected with said valve so that the rotation thereof in one direction will open said valve; of another rotary member mounted so as to be rotatable independently of said firstmentioned rotary member, one of said rotary members having an endwise slot therein and means for coupling said rotary members by coins of various sizes.

3. In a prepayment gas-meter, the combination with an inlet-valve of m cans for opening said valve, said means comprisin a coinroll with a slot therein of greater length than the diameter of the operatingcoin and having connection with said inlet-valve, whereby the rotation of said roll in one direction will open said valve; a sleeve rotatable about said coin-roll and means for coupling said sleeve and coin-roll by coins of various sizes, whereby the rotation of said coin-sleeve will be imparted to said coin-roll.

4. In a prepayment gasmeter, the combination with an inlet-valve of a threaded shaft; means for rotating said shaft in. one direction through the intervention of coins of various sizes; a nut movable lengthwise upon said shaft; means, movable about the axis of said nut, that will hold said nut against rotation when moving in one direction upon said shaft, and rotate the same when moving in the opposite direction upon said shaft; and. means connected with said valve and engaged by said nut for opening and closing said valve.

5. In a prepayment gas-meter, the combination with an inlet-valve connected with a rock-shaft; a notched disk fixed to said rockshaft; a pawl arranged so as to engage the notches in said disk; a dog adjacent to said pawl; a shaft; means for rotating said shaft rom coin-actuating mechanism a nut movable endwise upon said shaft and adapted during its endwise movement to engage said dog and notched disk and thereby open and close said valve.

6. In a prepayment gas-meter, the combination with the inlet-valve; of a threaded shaft; means for opening said valve by the rotation of said shaft; a coin-roll with a slot therein of greater length than the diameter of the operating-coin and having a ratchetactuated gear connected therewith for rotating said shaft; a coin-sleeve about said roll; and means for coupling said roll and sleeve by coins of various sizes, whereby the said coin-roll will be rotated during the rotation of said sleeve.

7. In a prepayment gas-meter, the combination with a coin roll having a slot therein of greater length than the diameter of the operating-coin; a pawl-arm fixed thereto; a pawl secured to said pawlarm a gear rotatable about a part connected with said coinroll and actuated by said pawl; a sleeve manually rotatable about said coin-roll; and means for coupling said sleeve and roll by coins of various sizes, whereby the same will be rotated in unison.

8. In a prepayment gas-meter, the combination with a coin-roll having a slot therethrough of greater length than the diameter of any of the coins to be inserted therein; of a coin-sleeve rotatable about said coin-roll and means for coupling said sleeve and coinroll by coins of various sizes.

9. The combination with a slotted coinroll having various outside diameters; of a sleeve rotatable about said coin-roll; and pins fixed radially in said sleeve and occupying different peripheral positions in relation to each other, the engagement of said pins with coins of various sizes being such as to provide means whereby an operative connection is made between said sleeve and coinroll.

10. Ina prepayment gas-meter, the combination. with the meter; of the case 36 connected therewith; a sleeve 43 within said case and rotatable manually from the exterior thereof; a coin-roll within said sleeve having a slot of greater length than the diameter of the coin designed to be placed therein, said case, sleeve and coin-roll having-slots therein which register with each other when all of said parts are in their rest positions.

11. In'a prepayment gas-meter, the combination with an inlet-valve; of means for opening said valve, said means comprising a coin-sleeve having a taper bore that automatically positions the coin therein, a coinroll within said taper bore; an operative connection between said coin-roll and inletvalve; and means for operatively connecting said sleeve and roll.

12. In a prepayment gas-meter, the combination with an inlet-valve; of means for opening said valve, said means comprising a coin-sleeve, having a tapered bore that automatically positions the coins within said sleeve; a coin-roll mounted therein; an operative connection between said coin-roll and inletvalve; means for operatively connecting said sleeve and roll by coins of various sizes, whereby they may be rotated together in one direction; and a projecting member upon said coin-roll engaging parts upon said coin-sleeve for moving said sleeve and roll in the reverse direction.

13. In a prepayment gas-meter, the combination with an inlet-valve; of a threaded shaft; means for rotating said shaft in one direction through coin mechanism; a nut movable lengthwise upon said shaft; a slotted sleeve inclosing said shaft and having an operative connection with said nut; means for rotating said sleeve; and means connected with said valve and engaged by said nut for opening and closing said valve.

14. In a prepayment gas-meter, the combination with an inlet-valve; of a threaded shaft; means for rotating said shaft in one direction through coin mechanism; a nut movable lengthwise upon said shaft; a slotted sleeve inclosing said shaft, and having an operative connection with said nut; and means for rotating said sleeve and moving said nut along said shaft.

15. In a prepayment gas-meter, the combination with an inlet-valve; of a threaded shaft; means for rotating said shaft in one direction through coin mechanism; a nut upon said shaft; a slotted sleeve inclosing said shaft; and means for connecting said nut and sleeve, whereby said nut will be moved lengthwise upon said shaft by rotation of either moved along said shaft by the rotation of said shaft or said sleeve. either said shaft or sleeve. 10 16 The combination with the threaded In testimony whereof I aflix my signature shaft; of a sleeve surrounding the same; a nut in presence of two witnesses.

upon said shaft; means for rotating said LOUIS T. BULLEY.

shaft; independent means for rotating said itnesses:

sleeve; and means for connecting said shaft, GEORGE E. HALL,

nut and sleeve, whereby said nut will be FLORENCE H. MONK. 

